Family

Issues

Stage Details

NOTE: THIS IS A SUBSTITUTE BILL, MEANING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL BILL HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE SUBSTITUTE BILL TEXT DIFFERS FROM THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE TEXT CAN VARY GREATLY.

Legislation -
Bill Passed
(Senate)
(24-9) -
April 25, 2012(Key vote)

Title: Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

Vote Result

Yea Votes

Nay Votes

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires drug testing for adult applicants to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, beginning January 1, 2013.

Highlights:

Requires each adult applicant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to submit to drug testing (Sec. 3).

Requires that each applicant pay for the cost of the drug test (Sec. 3).

Specifies that an individual who tests positive will be unable to receive TANF benefits for 1 year but may reapply for benefits after 6 months if they provide documentation that they subsequently went through a substance abuse treatment program and took 2 drug tests at least 30 days apart that were both negative (Sec. 3).

Authorizes an individual who tests positive to apply for a second test one year after the date of the initial test unless, after 6 months, they can provide documentation of going through a substance abuse program and taking 2 drug tests (Sec. 3).

Specifies that if the applicant tests positive after 1 year, then the applicant will be ineligible for TANF benefits for three years from the date of the first initial drug test (Sec. 3).

Specifies that when a drug test is positive, a second conformation test shall be done and the cost will be placed on the laboratory administering the test (Sec. 3)

Requires only one parent in a two-parent household to take the drug test for the family to be eligible for TANF (Sec. 3).

Specifies that if the parent of a dependent child becomes ineligible to receive TANF benefits due to a failed drug test, a protective payee shall be designated to receive benefits for the child (Sec. 4).

Prohibits the drug test to be used as evidence in criminal proceedings (Sec. 6).